News

Saint Xavier’s Rubloff Hall wins another award

Accolades for Illinois’ first LEED Gold university building continue to grow

Chicago (May 15, 2007) – The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. presented Saint Xavier University and Environmental Design Systems with a Regional Technology Award for the design of Saint Xavier’s Arthur Rubloff Hall.
The annual awards recognize achievements in the design of new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and retrofits.
Previously, Rubloff won a chapter ASHRAE award and most recently became the first university building in the state of Illinois to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold designation from the U.S. Green Building Council, the nation’s foremost coalition of building leaders striving for environmental excellence. To receive the ASHRAE awards and the LEED Gold designation, the University incorporated an exceptional number of “green” strategies to protect the earth’s natural resources into the building’s construction.
“We are simply delighted with the continued recognition of our sustainable building practices,” said Paul Matthews, assistant vice president of facilities management at Saint Xavier. “Saint Xavier, Chicago’s oldest Catholic University, has set the standard for cutting-edge ‘green’ building practices.”
Dedicated in October 2006, the energy-efficient 88-bed residence hall increases students’ awareness of environmental issues and encourages a collective mindset to make the preservation of our planet a greater priority. Amenities include carpeting made of recycled plastics, a roof with 1,000 square feet of low-maintenance plants for heating and cooling retention, and toilets with two flush modes – one for liquids and one for solids.
Visit http://greenbuilding.sxu.edu to take a virtual tour of Rubloff Hall.
Rubloff Hall’s state-of-the-art ventilation system improves indoor air quality and helps reduce the spread of germs. A carbon dioxide detection system can tell if a room is occupied and adjusts airflow accordingly. The building’s environmentally friendly design earned a $90,400 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.
“The ASHRAE Regional Technology Award recognizes projects which apply innovative concepts and systems designs to highlight technological achievements of ASHRAE members,” said Environmental Design Systems’ Mike McDermott, who provided ventilation, electrical and plumbing designs for Rubloff Hall. “This is truly exciting to receive this award.”
Organizers plan to submit Rubloff Hall to be considered for a national ASHRAE award later this year.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Joe Moore
(773) 298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu
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Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1846, Saint Xavier University was the first Mercy college in the United States and is Chicago’s oldest Catholic university. Serving approximately 5,700 students at its campuses in Chicago, Orland Park and its Loop location, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors; more than 40 graduate program options in arts and sciences, business, education and nursing; and a variety of program options in continuing and professional studies. Recognizing Saint Xavier’s excellence in education, U.S. News and World Report has ranked SXU consistently among the Best Colleges in the Midwest.
www.sxu.edu